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Satellite Pyramid GI-a

Description: The Satellite Pyramid of GI-a is the northernmost of the three smaller Pyramids on the east side of the Great Pyramid. Debate continues about who it was originally built for. Some believe that it was the tomb of the wife of Pharaoh Khufu, Queen Meritites I, others suggest that it was intended for Hetepheres I, mother of Khufu and wife of Sneferu, whose tomb was discovered in 1925 near the Pyramid. Inside, the Pyramid was first cleared and described in 1837 by Colonel Howard Vyse, together with the engineer and archaeologist John Shae Perring, but they could not find anything. Today, the Pyramid is a small stone hill, wherein the descending corridor and the burial chamber are located below the level of the bedrock surface.
Alternative names: Pyramid of Queen Hetepheres I
Lepsius No: 5
Type: True Pyramid
Location: Giza Plateau
Country: Egypt

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Builder (Owner)
Hetepheres (?)
Chronological Dating
Dynasty IV
Additional Data
A little north of the Satellite Pyramid is a deep shaft belonging to Queen Hetepheres. At the bottom of the shaft, archaeologists discovered a chamber with a beautiful alabaster sarcophagus, a chest for canopic jars and various valuable utensils. The sarcophagus was empty. The name of Queen Hetepheres was also discovered. She was the wife of Sneferu and the mother of the reigning pharaoh. Mark Lehner suggests that the queen's body went missing because it was moved to the burial chamber of the Satellite Pyramid Gl-a after the first pyramid was started and then abandoned, perhaps with a new set of utensils. However, even today there is no certainty that Hetepheres was really the mother of Pharaoh Khufu.

Complex Location
The East Side of Pyramid
Upper Temple
Additional Data
The mortuary chapel of the Satellite Pyramid Gl-a is completely missing today, having been dismantled to its foundation.
Lower Temple
Causeway
Enclosure Wall
Satellite Pyramids
Boat Pits
Additional Information about the Pyramid Complex
The Satellite Pyramid Gl-a, together with other satellite pyramids and adjacent buildings, is located on the eastern side of the Great Pyramid of Khufu and is part of its large complex. A little north of the Satellite Pyramid is a deep shaft belonging to Queen Hetepheres. The shaft was discovered sealed in 1925 by the photographer of the Egyptologist George Reisner. The shaft is 27 m (89 ft) deep and was filled with masonry from top to bottom when discovered. After clearing, at the bottom of the shaft, archaeologists discovered a chamber with a beautiful alabaster sarcophagus, a chest for canopic jars and various valuable utensils. The name of Queen Hetepheres was also discovered. She was called ‘Mother of the King’ and ‘Daughter of the God’, and it became obvious that she was the wife of Sneferu and the mother of the reigning pharaoh. Mark Lehner suggests that the queen's body went missing because it was moved to the burial chamber of the Satellite Pyramid Gl-a after the first pyramid was started and then abandoned, perhaps with a new set of equipment. However, even today there is no certainty that Hetepheres was really the mother of Pharaoh Khufu.

Base side length
North Side
46.0 m
South Side
46.0 m
West Side
46.0 m
East Side
46.0 m
Azimuth
Angle of slope
52.0 °
Structural Features
The Satellite Pyramid GI-a was built with due regard for the slope of the bedrock, so that its base was neither level nor a perfect square, unlike the Great Pyramid of Khufu, whose base was leveled during construction. The base of the Satellite Pyramid may have been 88–89 cubits long, which was one-fifth the length of Khufu. As with the Pyramid of Khafre, the bedrock base of the bottom course of the Pyramid's casing was cut at different heights and at different angles so that the top of the first course of masonry could be leveled with a minimum of cutting. The Satellite Pyramid had a stepped inner core. Thin stone retaining walls are visible on the exposed top of the now badly destroyed Pyramid. Backing blocks, identical in size and hue to those of the core itself, lined the courses of masonry. Below, between the core and the casing, is an infill layer of small blocks of soft yellowish limestone. In places the remains of blocks of fine-grained limestone casing with graceful joints between them are visible.
Main Building Material
Limestone
Casing Material
Fine limestone
Additional Data
Construction of Satellite Pyramid Gl-a began 28 m (92 ft) east of its final position, as evidenced by the initial part of the descending corridor carved into the bedrock.
Pyramidion

Entrance
Location
The North Side of Pyramid
Descending corridor
Casing Material
Bedrock (limestone)
Portcullis
Burial chamber
Casing Material
Fine limestone
Additional Data
The burial chamber is located west of the descending corridor and the central axis of the Satellite Pyramid. The chamber was carved into the bedrock and lined with stone masonry.
Sarcophagus
Additional Data
The descending corridor located near the central axis of the Pyramid turns west at its end and leads to the burial chamber. Probably, this decision was made in order to make it more convenient to maneuver the sarcophagus when delivering it to the chamber.

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